Phillies line up tributes to Kalas

The Philadelphia Phillies will pay tribute to Harry Kalas on Friday and Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.

Kalas died Monday in the press box at Nationals Park in Washington before the Phillies' game against the Nationals.

Fans are urged to arrive early for the Friday game, when the Phillies play the San Diego Padres at 7:05 p.m. That night, the television booth at Citizens Bank Park will be named the Harry Kalas Broadcast Booth and a plaque will be hung to officially name the booth.

Read Full Stoty

Phillies announce plans to honor Kalas

by John George

The Philadelphia Phillies announced Wednesday a series of tributes planned for Friday to honor Harry Kalas, the team’s Hall of Fame broadcaster who died Monday.

The television booth in which Kalas broadcast since Citizens Bank Park opened in 2004 will be named the Harry Kalas Broadcast Booth, “That ball’s outta here!” A plaque will be hung to officially name the booth. The neighboring radio booth is named the Richie “Whitey” Ashburn Broadcast Booth, “This game’s easy, Harry.”

The ceremonial first ball will be thrown by Kalas’ three sons, Todd, Brad and Kane.

Prior to the national anthem, to be sung by Kane Kalas, there will be a moment of silence.

All fans will receive a color photograph of Kalas.

Kalas’ signature will be displayed on the field during the seven-game homestand beginning on Friday.

Read Full Stoty

Phillies' Broadcaster Harry Kalas Dies Suddenly at 73

Longtime Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, 73, died on Monday afternoon in Washington, DC, shortly after being rushed by ambulance to George Washington University Hospital.

Phillies' president David Montgomery says Kalas was found after passing out in the broadcast booth, on the seventh level of Nationals Stadium, about 12:30pm, just a couple of hours before Monday's scheduled 3pm game against the Nationals.

Even before the seriousness of Kalas' condition was known, Montgomery said he thinks "it's serious." Afterward, Montgomery (below right) expressed the condolences of the entire team:

"We lost our voice today. He loves our game and made a tremendous contribution to our sport and certainly to our organization. Right now our focus is with Eileen, (sons) Kane, Todd, Brad, and to support them as much as we can."

Source: kyw1060.com

Phillies, NFL Films voice Harry Kalas dies

Harry Kalas, legendary broadcaster for the Philadelphia Phillies and the voice of NFL Films has passed way at the age of 73.

Click here to listen to Kalas' work with NFL Films.

Fans also heard Kalas' voice doing Campbell's Soup commercials.

Kalas, who had done the Phillies since 1971, was taken to a hospital Monday after passing out prior to the Washington Nationals-Phillies game in D.C.

Today's game - Washington's home opener - is being played at Nationals Park, but the defending world champions will not go to the White House Tuesday as scheduled.

A moment of silence was observed before the Phils-Nats took the field.

In 2002, Kalas was named the Ford C. Frick Award winner at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Phillies president David Montgomery said "we have lost our voice" in announcing the death.

Kalas, who had been with the Phillies since 1971, was known for his distinctive "Outta here!" home run call, a fact Phillies legend Mike Schmidt knew very well.

“The best way I can sum up Harry’s relationship to me was he gave me my sports name," Schmidt told ESPN shortly after learning of the his friend's death. "People all over the country refer to me by the name Harry actually gave me: ‘Michael Jack.’ Everytime I hear it now the rest of my life, his face and smile will resonate.”

“I think he’ll go down over time as one of the top two or three ever (to) grace a microphone," Schmidt told the cable network. "He had a way with those home runs that was a really beautiful thing.”

Kalas used the 'Michael Jack Schmidt' moniker when he called the Hall of Famer's 500th home run in 1987.

ESPN also reached John Kruk, an analyst for the cable network and a first baseman on the Phillies 1993 NL pennant winners.

“He was the Phillies," Kruk said. "He’s a friend to all of us. He was as big a part of the team as any player, coach, manager.”

Longtime Philadelphia announcer Bill Campbell told KYW Newsradio in the city that Kalas had leg circulation problems and had a heart procedure to address those problems.

Kalas missed most of spring training after undergoing surgery in early February, the Philadelphia Daily News reported. The Phils declined to provide specifics of the surgery at that time, saying only that it was a "minor medical procedure" and that there was no reason for concern, the paper also said.